Bail Modified For Man Who Led Police Chase

Northampton County Judge Robert E. Simpson yesterday modified the bail of the Pen Argyl man who on Sunday commandeered a Pen Argyl police car and led police on a six-mile chase.

Simpson made 31-year-old William Zeruth of 626 George St. eligible to go free by posting 10 percent of the $10,000 bail set Sunday by Wind Gap District Justice Adrianne Masut-Ford. Zeruth has been in jail since his arraignment on 11 criminal charges and a number of motor vehicle violations.

Simpson's action followed a report from Lehigh Valley Pre-Trial Services, and the withdrawal by Zeruth's former girlfriend, Theresa Bunn, of the protection from abuse petition that initiated the events leading to the chase.

Bunn told Simpson that she had obtained the temporary order to keep Zeruth away from her only so she could get custody of their daughter and move her belongings out of the George Street home they had shared. She will be moving from the area, so no longer needs protection from Zeruth in Northampton County, she said.

Simpson also modified arrangements for Zeruth's visitation with his two children by his previous marriage. He had scheduled the visitation matter for a hearing after the Sunday arrest.

Attorney Gregory Reed, who represents Zeruth's ex-wife, Judith Wiersma, asked the judge to suspend Zeruth's visitation rights on the basis of the criminal charges and the protection from abuse order which barred him from a permanent residence.

He claimed that during his last visitation with the two girls, Zeruth drove around aimlessly for hours and fed the children only soda and potato sticks before returning them to their mother's home "cold, tired, hungry and frightened."

But attorney Philip D. Lauer, who has represented Zeruth in extensive custody litigation, said that while Zeruth did drive around with the girls due to his temporary lack of residence, he took them to a fast food restaurant for a meal.

And the allegations of physical abuse -- denied by Zeruth -- related only to Bunn in any case, and never to the children, he said.

While the charges against Zeruth are serious, Simpson said it would not be proper to cut off all contact between parent and children. Instead, he ordered that visitation -- which will not take place until Zeruth is released from prison -- will take place under the supervision of individuals approved in an earlier agreement.

While not opposing modification of bail, Assistant District Attorney Daniel Polanski said "It is kind of a bizarre reaction to a court order that brings us here." And Simpson, who said he has concerns about Zeruth's apparent lack of coping skills, said he has heard allegations that Zeruth mouths off when he disagrees with court orders.

He warned Zeruth that from now on, the criminal and custody matters will be interrelated: a misstep in one area will impact the other area as well.